Topics

MESA, Ariz. -- Left-hander Phil Coke didn't allow a run in nine appearances that convinced the Chicago Cubs to add him to the roster and guarantee his $2.25 million salary. Coke, 32, will be asked to be more than a left-handed relief specialist, and he believes he put himself in a better position this winter by overhauling his mechanics. That came at the suggestion of former minor league pitcher Dominick Johnson, who resides in a San Diego suburb. Coke, who used to throw across his body, now finishes his delivery square to home plate. The change was necessary because right-handed hitters batted .333 against Coke, who limited left-handers to a .257 mark with Detroit. Coke became...

Related "Detroit Tigers" Articles

MESA, Ariz. -- Left-hander Phil Coke didn't allow a run in nine appearances that convinced the Chicago Cubs to add him to the roster and guarantee his $2.25 million salary.
Coke, 32, will be asked to be more than a left-handed relief specialist, and he...

The fortuitous discovery of a battered old lathe in the basement of a firehouse by a curious teenage baseball player is the starting point for one of the latest Chicago maker stories.
Russell Herberg, known as Buddy, spotted the motorless machine back in...

LAKELAND, Fla. — Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera was playing pingpong against a teammate in the cramped home clubhouse at Joker Marchant Stadium on Saturday when he hit a ball so hard it bounced off the table and sailed across the room.
Cabrera...

GLENDALE, Ariz. — When Avisail Garcia considered before a workout at Camelback Ranch this week the additions the White Sox made this winter, he offered his prediction that the team would make the playoffs.
Then the Sox right fielder quickly modified...

Pioneer Press takes a look at the Notre Dame, Maine South, Niles West, Ridgewood, Niles North, Maine East and Northridge baseball teams at the start of the season.
Notre Dame
Notre Dame returns five players who will be entering their third seasons as...

GLENDALE, Ariz. — Watching the bullpen implode last season was hazardous to the health of White Sox fans, and no one took it worse than broadcaster Ken "Hawk" Harrelson.
The long silences after blown games spoke volumes, and the simmering would...

MESA, Ariz. — The roles may change and so will the makeup of a deep Cubs bullpen.The lone question — the lack of an experienced left-hander — was addressed Thursday when the Cubs agreed to terms on a minor league contract with free agent Phil...

MESA, Ariz. -- Phil Coke hates being labeled a left-handed specialist.
So if Coke wants to shed that title with the Chicago Cubs, he'll have ample opportunities to show manager Joe Maddon he can retire right-handed hitters as well in spring...

MESA, Ariz. -- Manager Joe Maddon made no secret of the Chicago Cubs' search for a left-handed reliever, and they might have found one in Phil Coke.
According to tweets by Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal, the Cubs have agreed to a minor league deal with...

MESA, Ariz. -- Joe Maddon has seen Edwin Jackson at his best, which is why he still believes his embattled Chicago Cubs starting pitcher still has potential to succeed.
“He’s such a good athlete," said Maddon, who managed Jackson with the Tampa...

GLENDALE, Ariz. — A strong hint of cow manure wafted over the back fields at Camelback Ranch on Friday, prompting a White Sox executive to ask head groundskeeper Roger Bossard: "What's that smell?"
Fortunately, the scent was coming from a...

MESA, Ariz. — There are four weeks left in the exhibition season, which will allow Javier Baez and Mike Olt to continue to show progress in eliminating the flaws that hampered them in 2014.
The first two games provided snippets of how each player is...

Dave Bergman's generous spirit showed itself early in his life, according to younger brother Jeff Bergman.The family's oldest child, Steve Bergman, was born with special needs. The first thing Dave Bergman did after school was take care of his older...

DETROIT -- Victor Martinez is expected to be ready for the start of the season after the Detroit slugger had surgery on his left knee Tuesday.
The Tigers say their designated hitter should resume full activity in 4-6 weeks. General manager Dave...

Chicago fans have a chance to vote for their city as the best sports town in the nation, but standing in their way is an old enemy: Detroit.
A Twitter-based bracket competition has paired the home of the Bears, Bulls and White Sox against its Midwest...

The Chicago Cubs are the latest team for reliever Gonzalez German, who was claimed off waivers Friday from the Texas Rangers.
Germen, 27, pitched the past two seasons for the New York Mets, posting a 1-2 record and 4.31 ERA in 54 appearances. Germen...

Passes for this weekend's SoxFest are sold out and that reflects the White Sox's hopes for 2015 no longer are based on smoke and mirrors.
"There's legitimate excitement," longtime pitching coach Don Cooper said Wednesday. "There's...

WASHINGTON -- Sure seems as if Max Scherzer and his wife now will be able to afford to buy themselves at least one of those nonstick baking sheets they were hoping to receive as a wedding gift.
Or even a few million of 'em.
The 2013 AL Cy Young Award...

DETROIT — David Price and the Detroit Tigers avoided arbitration with a record-setting deal.
Price agreed to a $19.75 million contract, the largest one-year deal for a player who filed for arbitration. The agreement surpassed Max Scherzer's...

CARACAS, Venezuela -- Johan Santana retired six straight batters on Tuesday night in the Venezuelan Winter League, the first outing for the two-time AL Cy Young Award winner since he tore an Achilles tendon last June.
Starting for the Magallanes...